Locomotive structure



Dec. 25, 1934. w. M, SHEEHAN 1,985,384

LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 26, 1930 v Z'Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 25, 1934.

W. M.,SHEEHAN LocoMoTIvE STRUCTURE Filednec. 26, 195o g sheets-shenz Patented Dec. 25, `1,934

n UNITED I. STATES' PATENT oFvFlgcE j 1,985,384 v LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE William M. Sheehan, Meron, Pa., assignor to General Steel Castings Corporation, Granite City, Ill., a corporation of Delaware y y Application December 26, 1930, Serial No. 504,690

a claims. j (arios-'172) My invention relates'to railway rolling stock and consists in an improved construction of locomotive cross head guides and adjoining parts.

The objects of vmy invention are to eliminate 'unnecessary fitting and alignment ofthe parts and to provide Aa structure in which the spacing of the parts will be more accurately maintained and in which there will be fewer joints and fastening elements to loosen rand aiect the functioning of the parts or cause separation of the members.

Letters Patent No. 1,692,693, issued to H. M. Pflager, discloses cross head guides, cross head guide yoke, valve gear bracket, and cylinder all cast integral with the engine bed. In this construction, however, the steam cylinders must be bored from the front, which is impracticable where the pilot beam is also to be cast integral with the bed. Moreover, the cross head guides and bracket are comparatively small parts and when these are formed integrally with the underframe or bed, they greatly increase the difliculty of handling and machiningr the various parts in the foundry and shop. Also, the necessary machining of the cross head guide and valve gear bracket is difficult when the entire bed must be manipulated for this particular purpose.

I overcome the above disadvantages by casting the cross head guides, cross head guide yoke, valve gear bracket, and back\cylinder head in one piece which may be machined and bolted or welded as a unit to the engine frame after the cylinders have been bored.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a selected embodiment of my inventionr Figure 1 is a top View of a portion of a locomotive underfranie embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same structure.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, the locomotive frame or bed includes side frames 1, with pedestal jaws 2, steam cylinder 3, steam control chamber 4, boiler saddle 5, front deck 6, transom 7, and pilot beam 18, all cast integral. The pilot beam projects in front of the cylinders and prevents a boring tool being inserted therein from the front of the bed. Transom 7 includes a portion extending outwardly from the engine frame but above the level of the cylinder whereby a `boring tool may be inserted in the cylinder from the rear.

When the cylinder has been bored, and other machine work on the bed completed, VI apply myy novel cross head guide unit comprising the guide yoke 10 with valve gear bracket 9, inwardly prorjectingy plate 8,-cross head guides 11, and the rear cylinder head 13. Preferably, this unit con- 5 sists cfa one piece asting'including the valve gear bearings llandthe stumng box` 17 for thepacking gland (not shown) surrounding piston rod 14. Suitable reinforcing flanges are arranged on the yoke, bracket, plate, and guides and I prefer to apply renewable wear plates 12 to the guides 11 for direct vengagement with the cross head 15.

The plate 8 overlapsthe extension on transom 7 and is united therewith by welding, as indicated at W, thereby eliminating the drilling of numerous holes for bolts and the consequent v weakening of the metal, and the necessity of continual maintenance expense because of frequent inspection and tightenig of the bolts.

Cylinder head 13 is similarly united with cylinder 3 by means of welding. I thereby provide a rigid structure including the cylinder, side frame, pedestals, valvegear brackets, and cross head guides whereby relative movement of these parts is eliminated, which contributes to the smooth action and long life of the locomotive The construction described provides a new article of manufacture, as best indicated in Figure 4, which may be formed independently of the remainder of the locomotive structure. It may be easily manipulated to plane the guides 11, to drill andream the bearings 16 for the valve gear and the stuffing box 17, and to face and counter bore the cylinder head 13. Not only do I eliminate the labor and other expense required for assembling a number of separately formed parts, Vbut I eliminate the possibility of the parts loosening up as a result of the heavy forces applied in different directions to the different parts and as a result of the stretching incident to the bolts and rivets usually relied upon to assemble the parts. By forming the entire device of a single casting, I am able to dispose the metal most advantageously, utilizing reinforcing flanges of the required strength only and placing them only where they may be needed. This vavoids the use of surplus metal present where overlapping of members is necessary in order to provide securing flanges or attaching lugs. y

The cross head guides are shown as of channel section, but this shape is not essential to the invention; and a singlecross head guide may beV cast integrally with the other parts and the other guide formed separately or omitted completely. 55

Obviously, many of the advantages of my structure may be realized by Varying the shape 01 relative position of the parts and it is not essential that the locomotive underframe be of the integral type or that it includes the integral pilot beam. I contemplate the exclusive use of these modications and others included within the scope of my claims.

I claiml. In a locomotive, a side frame, a lateral projection thereon,` a steam cylinder, and a pilot beam projecting in front of said cylinder, all integral With each other, and a cross head guide, a cross head guide yoke, and a cylinder rear head integral with each other and united with said lateral projection and cylinder by Welding to form a. single integral structure thereby permitting boring of said cylinder from the rear.

2. In a locomotive, a side frame, a lateral projection thereon, a steam cylinder, and a pilot beam extending in front of said cylinder, all integral with each other, and structure including a cross head guide, a guide yoke, a cylinder rear head, and valve gear bracket, all integral With each other and secured to said lateral projection and cylinder thereby permitting boring of said cylinder from the rear.

3. In a locomotive, a side frame, a lateral projection thereon, a steam cylinder, and a pilot beam projecting in front of said cylinder, all formed integralwith each other, and structure including a cross head guide, a guide yoke, a cylinder rear head, and a valve gear bracket, all formed lintegral with each other and united with saidlateral projection and cylinder by Welding to form a single integral structure, there being space to the rear of said cylinder before said structure is applied thereto for boring said cylinder from the rear.

WILLIAM M. SHEEHAN. 

